Coaches Corner: Why We Walk Away from our Ambitions

Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by Natalie in Coaching Corner, Entrepreneurs, Featured

By Felicia Lee, Ghost CEO Advisor

It’s been such a joy to watch and participate in some of the 2010 Winter Olympic activities.  I’m quite inspired by the Olympic athletes, especially in their stories and journey.

Olympic Gold Medal (Photo by Natalie)

So many have always known that they’ve wanted to become an Olympian ever since they were little kids.  Some have been called “too ambitious”, but have not allowed naysayers to come between them and their ambition.  Today I want to take a quick look into this thing we called “Ambition”.

Are you ambitious?  What does the word “ambition” mean to you?  Do you feel uncomfortable talking about your ambition?

Does it conjure up negative connotations like self-centredness, egotism, or perhaps manipulation of others for your own purposes?

In my coaching sessions, I go over my clients’ business goals, and I usually ask them to aim for what they want, not what they think they can achieve.  Sometimes I really have to stretch them.  I find so many women uncomfortable with being public about their ambitions.

Many think that ambition is only condoned once they have first satisfied the needs of all their family members – husbands, children, elderly parents, and others.  Otherwise their ambition is called into question.  So they settle for something less.  Something that is maybe a little bit easier to achieve and won’t rock anyone’s boats.  Often, they pack their ambitions into storage, to be dusted off one day in the future, but certainly not today.

Today I challenge you to think about your ambition

What have you always wanted to achieve or to be?  Are you living your passion?  Are you taking steps, if slowly, to get there?

Your ambition doesn’t happen unless you intentionally map out a plan for how you’re going to get there.  Here are two factors to consider:

1. Your competency i.e. getting really good at what you want to do, and
2. Building a support structure to provide the proper recognition for your achievements.

Today, there are fewer issues around women achieving competencies – there is far less discrimination in getting into the schools or programs that you need to and getting the job or the promotion, and there are plenty of resources and support for starting and running a business.

However, I see women having more challenges in building the recognition and support they need to sustain the journey to fulfilling their ambition.  We tend to shy away from asking for appropriate acknowledgement of their contributions or to demand appropriate support.

We feel selfish when we don’t subordinate their needs to those of others.  We also tend to downplay accomplishments, and have much more difficulty tooting our own horn.

Yet recognition is such a fundamental emotional need, and can play a big part as the motivational engine that drives our pursuit.  Just take a look at why Olympic athletes compete – they are all going for gold, and the recognition that a gold medal brings.

I would encourage you to dare to be ambitious with your pursuits in the first place, and then take a look at the two steps again.  Do you have steps in place to become competent, and do you have a support structure to provide recognition and so motivate you to keep going?

Listen Up: You could win a complimentary 45 minute coaching session with Felicia valued at $150.

This can be in person or if over the phone so it doesn’t matter where you are in the world. Just answer these 2 questions in the comment section below:

1. What is the key area you need the most help with as an entrepreneur? (i.e Financial advice, marketing, social media, business plans)
2. What do invest your money in most? (i.e business books, courses, products, advice, outsourcing)

Competition ends Sunday 7th March at midnight PST. Winner will be announced and contacted on Monday 8th.

• Coaches Corner: When To Walk Away From Your Customer
• Coaches Corner: Making Your Dreams Come True

Tags: Ambitious Entrepreneurs, Felicia Lee, Ghost CEO, Vancouver2010 Olympic Gold Medal